From August 2005 to August 2006 the number of public sector employees increased by 43,300 (2.7%) to 1,656,400.

In the same period the number of employees increased in Commonwealth government by 3.3%, state government by 2.9% and local government by 0.5%.

NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)

Release Date

December 2006

22 March 2007

March 2007

14 June 2007

NOTES ON ESTIMATES

2006 CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING

Original and seasonally adjusted estimates of Commonwealth and total public sector employees for May and August 2006 include temporary staff recruited by the ABS to conduct the 2006 Census of Population and Housing. For trend estimates, the impact of temporary ABS staff has been explicitly removed. For more information on trend estimates see paragraphs 21 to 25 of the Explanatory Notes.

GROSS EARNINGS

Estimates of gross quarterly earnings are affected by the varying number of pay periods from quarter to quarter. Although there was a significant increase in the original estimates of Commonwealth employees due to the Census, original estimates of employee earnings have decreased due to fewer pay periods in the September quarter 2006, compared to the June quarter 2006.

INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Israel Carmody on Perth (08) 9360 5141.

TABLES

1. PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES, Level of government - States & territories

May 2006

August 2006

C'wealth

State

Local

Total

C'wealth

State

Local

Total

'000

'000

'000

'000

'000

'000

'000

'000

Trend

New South Wales

62.0

384.8

49.7

496.5

62.5

388.2

49.7

500.4

Victoria

58.0

267.1

38.8

363.9

58.0

269.0

39.3

366.3

Queensland

32.1

252.2

42.7

327.0

32.5

255.8

42.3

330.6

South Australia

15.4

103.1

10.4

128.9

15.4

103.0

10.5

128.9

Western Australia

16.1

136.3

17.3

169.7

16.1

136.7

18.0

170.8

Tasmania

6.0

36.3

na

46.8

6.0

36.4

na

47.0

Northern Territory

3.5

20.1

na

26.9

3.5

20.2

na

27.2

Australian Capital Territory

64.8

18.8

. .

83.6

66.2

19.0

. .

85.2

Australia

257.9

1 218.7

166.9

1 643.5

260.2

1 228.3

167.9

1 656.4

Seasonally Adjusted

New South Wales

62.6

384.9

50.3

497.8

72.2

388.4

49.4

510.0

Victoria

59.0

267.4

38.7

365.1

65.1

269.3

39.6

374.0

Queensland

31.8

252.4

43.4

327.6

39.6

257.0

41.7

338.3

South Australia

15.7

103.6

10.2

129.5

18.1

102.6

10.7

131.4

Western Australia

15.9

136.6

17.0

169.5

19.8

136.3

18.3

174.4

Tasmania

6.1

36.4

na

47.1

6.8

36.5

na

47.9

Northern Territory

3.5

20.4

na

27.1

3.9

20.0

na

27.4

Australian Capital Territory

65.0

18.8

. .

83.8

67.0

19.1

. .

86.1

Australia

259.6

1 220.5

167.8

1 647.9

292.5

1 229.2

167.8

1 689.5

Original

New South Wales

62.9

390.3

50.4

503.6

72.0

392.8

49.5

514.3

Victoria

59.2

270.8

38.6

368.6

64.6

272.3

39.4

376.3

Queensland

32.0

255.1

43.5

330.6

39.3

260.5

41.9

341.8

South Australia

15.6

104.9

10.1

130.6

18.1

103.1

10.8

132.0

Western Australia

16.0

137.6

17.1

170.7

19.8

137.2

18.2

175.2

Tasmania

6.1

37.2

4.4

47.7

6.8

37.2

4.5

48.5

Northern Territory

3.5

20.6

3.3

27.5

3.9

20.0

3.5

27.5

Australian Capital Territory

65.5

19.1

. .

84.6

66.9

19.3

. .

86.2

Australia

260.8

1 235.7

167.4

1 663.9

291.5

1 242.6

167.8

1 701.8

. . not applicable

na not available

2. PUBLIC SECTOR GROSS EARNINGS, Level of government - States & territories: Original